The objective of this project is to subject a relatively large body of existing data for a surface water impoundment to statistical computations for establishing and quantifying the largely wind-driven circulation and turbulent processes that affect the quality of the impounded water. The impoundment being studied in this project is the Toledo Bend Reservoir on the Sabine River in Texas, characteristic of many highly stratified, water supply and cooling water reservoirs in the United States with a relatively low rate of water-displacement. The results of this project are potentially applicable for use in validating existing mathematical models for characterizing the physical processes that affect circulation in these types of impoundments and influence the quality of the impounded water. This project's results are likely to lead to a better understanding than now exists of mixing and circulation patterns in stratified lakes that have an impact on the quality of the impounded water. This knowledge may be applied to engineering design of new impoundments, operation of existing impoundments, and the location and operation of treatment systems for bringing the water to standards of quality that are appropriate for the intended use.
